The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-05
Che qtttalliaettfr
omcc, Nos. 20 and 81 Fourteenth street.
OVER THE WIRES.

No. o'' " -" 49,
OVER THE WIRES.
swell" said Mr.. Roland Wayne, whe,
he came into his Office, after several days
illness with q wretched neuralgia, which
affected him whenever the east wint
blew, you got some for the telsphon,
did you, Burns?"
eyes, SIR, the head clerk replied
"Thc young lady has been hero sinc,
Tuesday,
"founs lady7' exclaimed Mr.. Wayne
testify. "Why do you get o woman A
brokers' Office is no place for a woman"
"Why, you see, air." said Burns, will
an Obvious embarrassment and spprehen
sive glances toward q light oak partition
behind which tho new operator sat In con.
cealnsnt, "you didn't uay anything aboul
that, only that MI. Richards had hit
hands FULL with the wires. and that there'J
have to DO some one to take charge OF the
telephone; 80 l." 30
"ihat Is just like you, Burns," said Mr.
Wayne, stamping back into his private
Office; "any one else would have known
bttter."
"lVhy, you see, sir" said Burns, deicn.
eively, .as he followed him back, II didn't
think 1t would make much difference.
The young lady is very capable aud she
seemed to want the place 80 badly. She
is worry poor, sir, and supports her mother.
know something about her, you ses."
"Oh! Some flame Of yours, l suppose,
Burnsf Very nice arrangement for you,
no doubt"
II beg pardon, SIR" said Burns, in an
offended manner. II an q married man."
"By Jove! 30 you arel" said Roland
Wayne. with u laugh. II had forgotten
that. Though" he added humorous!y,
"that doesn't always make a difference,
Well, try her, anyhow. Whero's the
~ tell you what, Burns" n OF the
other c!efksobserved when thatindividual
finally emerged from Mr.. Wsync's Office,
the ooss is in a fly humor, isn't hop
"He's all right" Burns answered, warm.
ly. "He has given me a ticket to Atlantic
City and two days OIL"
The clerk whistled. {,
"Why, l thought he was going to take
your head of"
"You don't know him. l an sure It is
no shsme TO o man whose nerves are al
wsys twinging with neuralgia If be loses
his temper now and then"
TolRnd, meanwhile, had taken up his
pen, and was writing a lengthy account
Of BIisset's new deal In 2. Y. EM.
III The cat jumps this way" he said, in
conc uslon, '"the bears have got him sure.
Danbury 10 on our side. He has given
B.iaket the cold shoulder, eud, II Pm not
mistaken, somebody will get Wofully LEFT.
I don't intend thatis shall bel. II every.
thing goes 30 | think it will, l uhall pocket
5000 900. and then I an going to get out OF
the brokerage b%ueinesH. II doesn't suit
the, and my health is SO poor that / must
get away somewhere or l shall 60 to
pieces"
II beg pardon, sir!" said a soft tremu-
lou6 Toice a! his elbow. ~ an Mias Ar.
cher, Mr.. Wayne"
Roland dropped his pen, and roso DO.
lite!y as he saw q slight, graceful figure in
blsck standing before him.
"Be SEATED, Miss Archer" be said with
a emile which no man could have with.
held when hesaw the fairness Of the young
face, and that shy, sweet tlush on her
cheeks. "What can / DO ior your"
II I'm the telephone OPERATOR" she be-
gan. rapidly, and with o newcomers she
could not conceal. Ill could not help
hearing what you said to Mr.. Burns a
little while ago-aud l came to say that if
you are not satisfied to have mo stay in
the oihceyon need only cay co."
"Nos Satisfied! !" Roland echoed in man
fleet confusion. "Well, really, you knoY
have not given YOU q trial; aud as to
Whist l saba little while ago, | an cory,
Miss Archer. l am afraid you will have
to set it down to neuralgia. l am quite
willing to have you stay II you will"
"Iog ara very kind" she said, lacing
and un!acing her iingersin some confusion.
II ahould; like to stsy-indeed, it is very
important that I should have this poai-
ZION, or something else. But if what you
say il true-ii q brokers' office is no place
for q w~omsn-I-1 think | would rather
not stay." /
How Roland Wayne abused himself
when he thought Of his c~areleEs worda,
and then marked how her lipa quivered,
how her oyelids dropped 10 keep back the
unshcd tears!
81 think l spoke too hastily, Miss Ar
cher" he enid. "a lady's place is whore
abe makes 1t. We arc not q lot Of saw
ageo,' he added, with q warm SMILE IF
you1cmain here l think / eau insure you
/ .,,3Ffanpr arI rnreSInrnfa fen.J-&apk -.
the part Of every oae in the ofics. II
such is not accorded you, you have only
to inform me, and l will know the reason
why"
With a bright, ilsoting emile. ~ should
like to STAY. | really can not afford to TO-
sign my position"
"Then stay, by all meana," said Roland,
And, TO the cdidcation Of his clerks, he
gotSup and opened the door for her when
She Went out. ~
after that he often caught himself lis.
tening TO the uott, yet distinct voice in
tho other room, holding conversations
over the phone. :
When Re Was at home with one Of his
attacks OF neuralgia and had to commuui.
cute With the Office by wire he often re.
marked how we'll ho could hear Miss Ar
cher's voice, when all the others ebbed
away into a Babel OF sound.
burns did a fine thing when he got that
girl III the Office" he unused, q day,
when be was kept prisoner very inop.
%porturely. II don't know what we'd do
without her-uow especially. It's bad
enough asst is. couldn't have had this
attack at a worIe time. But I guess every.
thing is all right. Danbury's good for
any amount this side Of a million. Bv
Jove, though, it would be rough on me Il
anything went wrong nowl It would
clean me out completely.
lie Wea walking up and down the room